Hey there, I'm Kayla
Kayla is a kitchen herbalist with ten years of business management experience. She manages our social media, website and email, helping spread the word about Melissa's classes. She aspires to lead plant illustration classes and outdoor play groups for kiddos and their adults in the future!
My herbal journey
My relationship with “herbs” began with an aloe plant in my grandma’s backroom window. It was a seemingly forgotten windowsill. I’d sneak away to pinch the aloe leaves and play with the goo that oozed out. I remember Grandma putting the goo on our cuts and burns. I faintly remember her putting pine pitch on our slivers … And I definitely remember her lecturing me about stinging nettle after I had run through a whole lot of it. It probably seemed to go over my head as a kid, but here I am, remembering it all.
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Around the time I became responsible for my own health and healthcare, supporting my overall wellness naturally became more important to me. When I married a fella with a weak immune system, it became even more important… My first pregnancy, more still… Caring for our daughter, even MORE! In unexpected ways too, like raising chickens. Even they can benefit from herbs [in life as well as in soup! 😉] My herbal knowledge has grown as my life has grown. I feel a great sense of pride and gratitude when wildcrafting. Creating a more sustainable, nourishing, non-toxic home for me and my family has been my ongoing motivation.
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My small, natural, outdoor community [like Melissa!] has helped my herbal knowledge grow very organically. Playing outside and foraging go hand-in-hand, and I have always loved playing outside! You’ll often find me, squatting alongside a stream, stumbling into a ditch, or gazing up at the trees, book or phone in hand looking at plants, rocks, bugs, birds… a life-long student! Oh, and how I love settling in with a nourishing meal or cup of tea after time outside. One of my favorite things to do with herbs and foraged goods is cook. Creating delicious, nourishing meals, treats and drinks gives me such joy. Food can be delicious medicine!
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In the beginning, I did what a lot people do when they’re curious – researching online! At the time, there were a few big companies offering online, expensive courses on herbalism. While that might work for some, for a young person on a limited budget, these were completely out of reach. I ran up against this wall again and again, also considering, “How do you ask questions? Can you really learn to identify a plant online?” It's a bit different now. More folks are cutting toxic products and looking for natural alternatives. Social media herbalists share free resources whether you want them or not. There is tons of information online... Which is great! I’ve learned a lot online. But I've also collected books and spent lots of time outside and in the kitchen. I need to get outside, interact with the plant, and talk to people about it to really learn it. I know I'm not alone! I am deeply humbled to be working alongside Melissa to offer small, in-person classes on herbs and wildcrafting.
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I look forward to learning alongside you! Cheers to good health, good food, and time well spent outdoors.
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- Kayla N.